Women in Fire and Rescue Services News

News Archive

2025

Mira Leinonen becomes the only female Chief Fire Officer in Finland

Leinonen becomes only the second woman in Finnish history to hold this position, following Piia Vähä...

Mira Leinonen becomes the only female Chief Fire Officer in Finland

Hidden spy camera found in the women´s bunk room in fire station

The women say they now struggle with anxiety at work, unsure who to trust. Some have asked for trans...

Hidden spy camera found in the women´s bunk room in fire station

Michele Fitzsimmons becomes FDNY’s first female deputy chief

Her promotion comes at a time when the FDNY continues to push for more gender inclusivity. Currently...

Michele Fitzsimmons becomes FDNY’s first female deputy chief

2024

The CTIF Commission for Women in Fire & Rescue Services photographed with CTIF vice president Christophe Marshal at ROCHE, Basel, Switzerland in August 2024.

The 19th CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue Services meeting held in Basel 2024

On August 6 and 7, 2024, 17 women firefighters from 12 countries met at Roche, in Basel, Switzerland...

The 19th CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue Services meeting held in Basel 2024

CTIF Commission for Women in Firefighting in Vienna, November 2018

The CTIF Commission for Women in Fire & Rescue meets in Basel in August for their 19th yearly meetin...

All participants are kindly asked to register as soon as possible with the Commission secretary, Ine...

The CTIF Commission for Women in Fire & Rescue meets in Basel in August for their 19th yearly meeting

London Fire Brigade headquarters. Wikipedia Commons License. Photo by Tristan Forward.

“We’ve got nothing to hide” - London Fire Brigade evaluates one year after the independant culture ...

Fire chief Andy Roe confirmed that 13 staff members have left the organization, with six being dismi...

“We’ve got nothing to hide” - London Fire Brigade evaluates one year after the independant culture review

A Female Firefighter Climbing a Ladder. Free to use: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-female-firefighter-climbing-a-ladder-16207693/

Turnout gear designed for men may pose a risk for female firefighters

The CTIF Commission for Women in Fire and Rescue has argued for more than a decade that female firef...

Turnout gear designed for men may pose a risk for female firefighters

2023

Sari Rautiala from CTIF´s Commission for Women in Fire & Rescue S.ervices was selected for the For the Firefighter of the Year Award in Finland

Sari Rautiala - Finland´s Firefighter of the Year 2023 - has made firefighters´work known and increa...

Sari Rautiala has been selected for the Firefighter of the Year award in Finland. A previous winner...

Sari Rautiala - Finland´s Firefighter of the Year 2023 - has made firefighters´work known and increased the positive publicity of the rescue industry

The new Board of Directors for the CTIF Commission for WFR

CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue Services met at CERN - New Chair and board elected

Congratulations to Nicola Lown, UK, to the Chair position! Thank you Mira Leinonen for your 8 years ...

CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue Services met at CERN - New Chair and board elected

Dany Cotton at the Women of the Year Award

Dany Cotton of the London Fire Brigade receives the Women of the Year Award

The Prudential Women of the Year Leadership Award was awarded to the Commissioner of the London Fire...

Dany Cotton of the London Fire Brigade receives the Women of the Year Award

CTIF´s Mira Leinonen keynote speaker at FDIC: Together we are stronger!

Mira tweeted: Thank you for the keynote opportunity for @WomeninFireOrg and the @FDICevent - we ca...

CTIF´s Mira Leinonen keynote speaker at FDIC: Together we are stronger!

CTIF celebrates International Womens´ Day 2023

CTIF´s Mira Leinonen speaks at FDIC in April

For International Women´s Day Mira Leinonen and Susanne Klatt will be giving an overview of challeng...

CTIF´s Mira Leinonen speaks at FDIC in April

CTIF Women Commission chairs speak at International Women´s Day conference and at FDIC in April

For International Women´s Day Mira Leinonen and Susanne Klatt will be giving an overview of challeng...

CTIF Women Commission chairs speak at International Women´s Day conference and at FDIC in April

2022

A fire truck form the London Fire Brigade in 2013. RX54NXF 231013 CPS Date 23 October 2013, 11:23 SourceÖ RX54NXF 231013 CPS Uploaded by Ultra7: Author: Chris Sampson

Equality & Equal Opportunity review: London Fire Brigade finds painful faults in their own organizat...

The report paints a picture of poor behaviour towards Black, Asian and minority ethnic, LGBTQ+ and n...

Equality & Equal Opportunity review: London Fire Brigade finds painful faults in their own organization

Wikipedia Commons License. Engine 26 of New York City Fire Department, leaving its base at West 37th street. Own photo, taken on Sept. 12. 2006. Date 12 September 2006 (according to Exif data) Source Own work Author Hu Totya

New York Fire Department will be led by a female Commissioner for the first time

Laura Kavanagh was named interim commissioner in February after the previous commissioner Daniel A. ...

New York Fire Department will be led by a female Commissioner for the first time

A screenshot of WIFR's Monday March 28 meeting.

Report from the CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue Services monthly meeting

The CTIF Commission for Women in Fire and Rescue Services is one of our most active commissions and ...

Report from the CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue Services monthly meeting

2021

The participants of the Monday 27 Commission Meeting for CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue.

The CTIF Commission for Women in Fire & Rescue discussed transgender issues at monthly meeting

The main speakers were Acting District Chief Sofie Lasiuk from the Toronto Fire Service and Ms Jeong...

The CTIF Commission for Women in Fire & Rescue discussed transgender issues at monthly meeting

"Mimi" Mireille Glauser (left) and her workmates during the Basel Women´s Run on September 11th.

Europe showing signs of post pandemic reopening: The Annual Basel Women´s Run almost back to normal

In full bunker gear, Mimi Glauser from the CTIF Commission for Women in Fire and Rescue ran with thr...

Europe showing signs of post pandemic reopening: The Annual Basel Women´s Run almost back to normal

The concept is based on separating showers and change rooms rather than separating the entire crew during cleanup after an intervention.The Attunda fire station in the Greater Stockholm region was one of the first in Sweden to embrace the new Social Building Code 18. Photo by KIRTJ.se.

New Swedish gender neutral "recovery room" concept with separated showers allow male and female fire...

Keep the conversations going: The concept allows for individual privacy without needing to separate ...

New Swedish gender neutral "recovery room" concept with separated showers allow male and female firefighters to debrief together after calls

The Italian CBRN team on mission in Beirut in August 2020.

Stefania Fiore tops April 22 Seminar speaker list with Beirut CBRN mission during Covid-19 pandemic

The CBRN mission was dangerous and complicated during the aftermath of the blast.

Stefania Fiore tops April 22 Seminar speaker list with Beirut CBRN mission during Covid-19 pandemic

Bronnie Mackintosh is a Winston Churchill Fellowship recipient. As a station officer with Fire and Rescue NSW, she travelled the world to research how international fire agencies are changing their workforces to be more reflective of the diverse communities they protect. Photo: Screenshot from the TedX talk video.

How diversity in Fire and Rescue will build a safer society

Bronnie Mackintosh travelled the world to research how international fire agencies are changing thei...

How diversity in Fire and Rescue will build a safer society

Photo by City of Surrey, BC. Serving one of Canada’s most diverse cities, Surrey Fire Service embraces the values of diversity. We know our continued excellence relies on our ability to attract, develop and retain highly skilled, talented and motivated members of cultural, gender and ethnic diversity. Increasing our number of female firefighters is a priority.

CTIF Celebrates International Womens´Day with video interviews from women firefighters all over the ...

In order to honour the countless women who serve and protect in fire services around the world, the ...

CTIF Celebrates International Womens´Day with video interviews from women firefighters all over the world

Clip art of a male and a female firefighter https://www.cleanpng.com/png-firefighter-digg-stumbleupon-firefighter-973980/

Research shows male firefighters may be stronger - but overall work performance can be the same or b...

Men are muscle strong, but women firefighters´aerobic capacity is the same or better. This can resul...

Research shows male firefighters may be stronger - but overall work performance can be the same or better for women

Calgary skyline and Scotiabank Saddledome

Calgary fire chief admits a sub culture of bullying, racism and fear exists in the department

CTIF News has previously reported on racism and sexism being a problem in many fire stations around ...

Calgary fire chief admits a sub culture of bullying, racism and fear exists in the department

2020

Nicole Hladic took her own life at age 27 after a shift change at the fire station, and the family is demanding answers. Photo by the Nicole Hladik Memorial page.

Inequality in the fire services still a hot topic around the world

There are still serious problems with gender inequality, racism, sexism and bullying in the workplac...

Inequality in the fire services still a hot topic around the world

Screen shot from the virtual meeting, with some of the members of the CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue Commission and other invited participants.

The CTIF Commission for Women in Fire & Rescue met with 32 participants from multiple time zones of ...

The timing of the meeting was carefully planned by each commission member and other stakeholders bei...

The CTIF Commission for Women in Fire & Rescue met with 32 participants from multiple time zones of the world

The CTIF Commission for Women in Fire & Rescue goes digital during the pandemic

The Commission decided to hold this meeting as an online conference on the 16th of June.

The CTIF Commission for Women in Fire & Rescue goes digital during the pandemic

Meredith McQuerry, an assistant professor in the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship. Her research investigated the different problems male and female firefighters have with flexibility and range of motion in their protective equipment. Photo from FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS THE OFFICIAL NEWS SOURCE OF FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

Florida research proves male and female firefighters need different turnout gear

A Florida researcher has now proved in a study what CTIF has been stating for many years: Women´s fi...

Florida research proves male and female firefighters need different turnout gear

Mira Leinonen, Chair of the CTIF Commission for Women in Fire & Rescue Services, speaking in the City of Barcelona.

We have to break with the idea that firefighting is a craft just for men

Firefighters representing nine countries: Canada, the United States, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, th...

We have to break with the idea that firefighting is a craft just for men

2019

CTIF Commission for Women in Fire & Rescue met for their bi-yearly meeting, this time in Barcelona.

CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue met in Barcelona

"We had a really good meeting and the fire department supported us the whole meeting", sa...

CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue met in Barcelona

Cataño, PR, October 25, 2009 -- Firefighter from the Volunteer Fire Department of Puerto Rico. Yuisa Rios/FEMA

Scottish fire services welcome a large increase in female firefighters

The Scottish Fire Rescue Service say a recruitment campaign this year made 771 females apply to beco...

Scottish fire services welcome a large increase in female firefighters

Photo: Wikipedia. A firefighter for the Air National Guard

Survey Examining Cancer and Injury Among Female Firefighters

You are being invited to participate in a research study for female firefighters, either born female...

Survey Examining Cancer and Injury Among Female Firefighters

Three of the members of the CTIF Commission Women in Fire & Rescue

Report from the 15th CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue Meeting

Elections were held since the Chairperson, Mira Leinonen, vice Chairperson Mona Hjortzberg and the ...

Report from the 15th CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue Meeting

The CTIF Seminar Fire, Rescue & New Challenges 2019 - Ostrava, Czechia October 25-26

The CTIF Seminar 2019 will focus on four sub headlines: Communications, New Procedures, Innovations ...

The CTIF Seminar Fire, Rescue & New Challenges 2019 - Ostrava, Czechia October 25-26

Female firefighters in front of a fire engine.

CTIF wishes a Happy Womens Day!

Gender equality doesn’t happen by itself, it needs concrete actions. From 2012, CTIF have worked wi...

CTIF wishes a Happy Womens Day!

Vancouver fire station women firefighters

Worldwide firefighting community sending encouraging messages to young UK girl wishing to be firefig...

Girls can be firefighters as well

Worldwide firefighting community sending encouraging messages to young UK girl wishing to be firefighter

2018

Fleur Lombard, a female UK firefigher who was burned to death in 1996 paved the way for new research and understanding of the need for specialized turnout gear for women.